Observed: Lovers of piano music, knots, art and fashion

Artist and creative director George McCalman captures the style and personalities of attendees at Bay Area events with his illustrations. Last month, he visited Flower Piano, the summer music pop-up within Golden Gate Park; the opening of fiber artist Windy Chien’s “The Year of Knots” show; the San Francisco Art Book Fair; and a slow-fashion-themed trunk show with Permanent Collection hosted by Coyuchi in Dogpatch.

Follow George McCalman on Instagram and Twitter at @mccalmanco.

“When people, including myself, marvel that I started making art later in life — I was 46 when I started — I always say that knowing myself and my point of view enabled me to more quickly to make work that that represents who I am. So, it’s better to have started later. I have more to say!” — Windy Chien, artist

Photo: Illustration, George McCalman

“The second time I met Windy, I visited her studio. As we were talking, she had picked up two wooden rings and some black rope, and was fiddling with them like a chain smoker! Her hands were continually moving while we talked; I really had no idea what she was doing. As we finished our chat, she tied off the necklace and presented it to me. I was stunned!” — Karen Eichler, art adviser

Photo: Illustration, George McCalman

Patrons gather for the Windy Chien show.

Photo: Illustration, George McCalman

Patrons gather for the Windy Chien show.

Photo: Illustration, George McCalman

“I am out on a rare date night with my wife. I actually have the night off! It’s a relatively new thing.” — Sylvan Mishima Brackett, Rintaro Izakaya

Photo: Illustration, George McCalman

“Most people don’t use the II,’ but when you’ve got the suffix, you have to use it.” — Gary L. Baker II, patron

Photo: Illustration, George McCalman

Flower Piano, Botanical Gardens, Golden Gate Park, June 23: “It feels like you’re living in a painting, achieving your own personal artistic heights. I play for a couple hours after work; my friend Talon Storm will sometimes come and channel Isadora Duncan in dance while I play Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, and all sorts of songs until they close.” — Danny Sullivan, S.F. Ballet pianist

Photo: Illustration, George McCalman

Flower Piano, Botanical Gardens, Golden Gate Park, June 23: “It feels like you’re living in a painting, achieving your own personal artistic heights. I play for a couple hours after work; my friend Talon Storm will sometimes come and channel Isadora Duncan in dance while I play Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, and all sorts of songs until they close.” — Danny Sullivan, S.F. Ballet pianist

Photo: Illustration, George McCalman

A delighted onlooker at Flower Piano.

Photo: Illustration, George McCalman

Delighted onlookers at Flower Piano in Golden Gate Park.

Photo: Illustration, George McCalman

An attendee peruses art prints at the San Francisco Art Book Fair July 22.

Photo: Illustration, George McCalman

San Francisco Art Book Fair, Minnesota Street Project, July 22: “During the dreaded midway point of our Kickstarter campaign for ‘Gay Men Draw Vaginas,’ George Takei got wind or our project and posted on Facebook: ‘Oh Myyy. I’m not sure I could draw one very well either.’ Within one hour of that sentence being read by his 9 million followers, over $10,000 of pledges had made their way into our crowdsourced vaginal vault.” — Keith Wilson, Breezy Circle Press

“We live in London about half the year and much of our work as curators (and writers) has been rooted in the community here. We might be California girls at heart, but we’ve figured out how to uncover the best elements of Europe in this collection.” — Fanny Singer, co-founder, Permanent Collection

Photo: Ilustration, George McCalman

Onlookers at the Permanent Collection launch party.

Photo: Illustration, George McCalman

“My mother-in-law opened her closet to show me something that she wanted my opinion on. My hawk eye zoomed in on a colorful knitted patterned textile balled up on the floor corner. ‘What’s THAT!’ She pulled out this long knitted sweater jacket with this Aztec-inspired pattern. I gasped. I was so enchanted by it. She even helped me take the sleeves off it.” — Joyce Hu, Wildlife Works